Today I shared the story of how I discovered the shadow of my doubt. That day was a huge turning point for me.
As I stood in my bathroom looking at the humongous shadow on my wall, I sensed God whispering to my heart: Renee, you can only see the shadow because you have turned away from the light. Turn back toward the light.
Slowly I turned back toward the lights above the mirror, and realized I was no longer standing in the shadow. I also realized I’d created the shadow by blocking the light.
Shadows are created all around us when something blocks light. And so it is with the shadow of doubt.
When we focus on ourselves and how inadequate we feel, or what others are thinking about us, we block the light of God’s Truth in our hearts which casts a shadow of doubt over our thoughts.
Our thoughts end up being mostly about ourselves: how we’re performing and what others are thinking about us. It’s not that these thoughts are bad. It’s just that when we focus our attention on ourselves, we turn our attention away from God.
We become concerned and sometimes consumed by what others think of us, instead of what God thinks about us.
If we want to live beyond the shadows of our doubts, we have to turn our eyes toward the Light by focusing on God’s thoughts towards us, instead of our thoughts about ourselves.
Turning toward the Truth
Until that day in my bathroom with God and my shadow, I thought doubt was simply a negative emotion. I kept thinking I’d be more confident if I’d just try harder to believe in myself. But it wasn’t about trying harder, it was about turning sooner.
Self-focus had turned my heart away from God’s promises. What about you? How many of these doubts have lured you away from the truth and into doubts shadows?
- I’m not good enough.
- I’m always disappointing someone.
- I can’t follow God consistently.
- I’ll never change.
That day was my turning point. I wanted to burn the image in my mind. Turning away from the shadow—turning toward the light. Turning would be crucial.
Turning away from self – Turning toward God
Turning away from doubt – Turning toward Truth
Turning away from darkness – Turning toward Light
Instead of waiting for God to zap us with confidence and remove our doubts, let’s ask God to use our doubts to draw us into a deeper place of dependence on Him and His promises. It’s not necessarily going to be easy, because it requires turning, but it is possible and worth what it takes to turn.
Turning leads to transforming, as we allow our thoughts to be made new, and transforming leads to believing as God’s thoughts become our Truth.
When doubt casts its shadow over us, let turn back to Jesus and live in the Light of His truth:
- When we feel inadequate, God says: You are CHOSEN.
“‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he’” (Isa. 43:10). - When we feel afraid, God says: You are REDEEMED.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isa. 43:1). - When we feel unloved, God says: You are LOVED.
“You are precious and honored in my sight, and . . . I love you” (Isa. 43:4). - When we feel forgotten, God says: You are REMEMBERED.
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16).
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I know this is a lot to process but today can be a turning point if you only remember this: Having a God-confident heart is not about trying harder, it’s about turning sooner.
I’m giving away two copies of A Confident Heart and two sets of conference calls for the upcoming Confident Heart online Bible study hosted and led by Melissa Taylor from Proverbs 31 Ministries. I’ll tell you how you can win in a minute but first I want to tell you about some free encouragement/resources:
- My Free Resources page has a list of promises to personalize and more free stuff!
- You can click here to download Chapter 1 from A Confident Heart and watch the book trailer here.
- “Like” my Confident Heart Facebook page, and you’ll receive (almost) daily encouragement and scriptures from me.
- You can sign up for email updates in that little box up at the top to receive my posts via email. That way you’ll know about free resources I add, give-aways coming up and all kinds of things you don’t wanna miss
Now, be sure to click “Share your thoughts” below and do just that. I love hearing from you and praying for you! Your comment can be short but it’s what I need to have your name for the drawing.
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Renee, I loved your devotion and blog!! I have always struggled with doubts and feelings of not being good enough, feeling like I was not “getting it” when trying to be a Christian, and knowing that I was a disappointment… I have felt them all!!! I am supposed to speak at my church’s fall women’s conference in Oct. and the closer the date gets, the more I doubt that I can do this… I don’t know what they were thinking when they wanted me to do this! I think, so often, if they really knew what my life had been like, they wouldn’t even want me in the church, let alone speaking at their conference… Yes, I have doubts – more than I could begin to count. But I also know that I have God on my side… And with Him, nothing is impossible – even me speaking at this Fall Conference.
I already have my book and cannot wait for the study to begin!! I could use some confidence in my heart and life… If I was selected to get the conference calls, that would be great! If not, somebody else needed them worse than me!
How perfectly this fits my needs, my feelings, my self-doubt today! Thank you for these words, for the assurance that it is God that I must find my ability in, not myself. Thank God for those wonderful things to ponder!
After years of feeling I was never good enough I am so thankful that God has changed my thinking. It has taken words of encouragement from others and learning to accept compliments to change my thinking as well as getting into God’s Word and finding answers for myself, not just what other people used to tell me. Bless her heart, my mother who is now 98 has lived with these feelings for years and even now will make comments about things in the past and how she suffered. I have been able to change some of her negative thinking by telling her how sorry I am for things that happened before my time which I cannot change but I am trying to make what time she is with us a better time. Renee, thank you for writing this book. I have gleaned much from you devotionals and articles already so I know there will be more from the Bible Study. Thank you and God richly bless you.
Renee,
Love getting your devotions in my inbox, ‘liked’ you on facebook, and have read chapter 1. Would love to read the whole book. Want my confidence to be in God alone, all the time. Thank you and Melissa for arranging the online study. Thank you for sharing your story to help others.
Blessings,
Julie
Renee,
Thank you for your devotions, they all touch my heart and challenge me to become a more confident mother, wife, and friend. I have gone to your free resource page, liked you on Facebook, read the 7 day doubt diet, and now have signed up for the online bible study with Melissa, now all I need is the confident heart book!! I would love to win a copy and further my journey to breaking free of doubt and become a more confident person. Thank you for your devotions and writing this book.
God bless,
Emily
I struggle with doubt also. I so much want to have a close walk with God and be confident in Him. Today I made a choice to trust Him, and it was a better day. I want to live in the truth and not be in darkness. I tend to go with my feelings instead of depending on God. I know He is the truth but I struggle to walk in the Spirit.
Your devotions help a lot.
Thank you for sharing this devotion Renee. I have been wrestling with lots of doubts lately. I believe that is why God brought me this message today. I am 3 weeks into my homeschool year and things were going great till I started doubting everything I was doing. I’ve been having my quiet time with God each morning and he has given me peace and strength. Yesterday morning I had to do some running around first thing in the morning so I missed my quiet tme. I became very anxious trying to teach my strong willed child and get it done before I had to run out and pick up my older child from cross country practice and get dinner ready before my other child came home from football practice. Anyway, I started to become anxious and I think my son picked up on that. He was being very difficult. I got upset and started wondering if everything I was doing was what I should be doing, am I doing it right, will my child learn anything, and on and on. I’ve had a good couple of weeks homeschooling and now I’m doubting if I can even continue. Wow, what a difference when I took my eyes off God. He also sent me, in the mail today, a complimentary homeschool magazine with an article in it about what I may be doing wrong to help me refocus. God is Great!!! I can’t wait till the study starts!
I think far too often we, as women, get tangled up in people pleasing, trying to be the best at everything and thereby failing to do anything well. We must stop and listen to His voice to direct our days, to give us that calm and peace we need to know that he will compass our day and be our strength 🙂 I’m learning that lesson as I’m overcoming paralyzing self-doubt and letting go of so much that I have allowed Satan to pile on top of me! I still have a long way to go and I plan to read this book very soon! May God bless you, Renee!
This is just what I’ve been working on lately. Having more God-fidence. Thank you. =)
I would love to read your book! This is a definite struggle for me and even more so in the past year. I read Chapter 1 and would love to read more!:)
I can’t believe all of the free resouces that you have–I am going to download them. I get your Facebook posts and I have chapter 1 of your book. It is so wonderful of you to share all of this with us. I also love how you share your heart with us. Thank you! Praying for you and your family.
Renee, Last evening I spent talking to my husband about how useless I feel and that I’m not friendworthy. In the middle of the night I woke up and picked up your book and started reading. The Light shined and I feel completely different today. Then I read the devotion today and am so excited about the bible study. I’ve downloaded your free resources. You are a great writer and I love your analogy about the shadow and light. I’m so glad you were born. Kathy
Thank you for the devotion this morning! I’m looking forward to the online Bible study coming up. It’s easy to be intimidated by the Proverbs 31 woman, but a look at Psalm 139 will make us feel as special as God wants us to feel. Thanks again for sharing.
It seems that every day I feel like a failure, God puts either your blog, devotion, or post right in my face lol. Today was another one of those days…when I say something & it was stupid & all eyes are on me. Or the fact that I had a meeting that went over & couldn’ t be there to help my daughter with her homework. I also am behind on laundry & need to go grocery shopping. Not only do I feel as a failure in their eyes, but God’s. I am sure he didn’t create me to be a mess up….I don’ t know how the Proverbs 31 wife did it! Well, I always look forward to your blogs. Hope i win. Take care.
What a great devotional. Wow. I live with doubt everyday, chronic, damaging, life-undermining thoughts. I lose my joy daily. My focus on ME has left me empty, always focusing on my worries, concerns, fears – I just want to flip it all inside out. God, thank you for speaking to me today! It’s time to get a little more eager to enjoy the life I’m given and accept positive things in my life. Thank you!!
I really needed this today! I have been battling myself all day long with doubts about….well everything. I am ready to turn and get out of this shadow of doubt. I have lived my whole life in it and it is time to turn it over to God! Thank you for sharing Renee!
Thank you for your daily encouragement. When you’ve been in doubt all of your life and now your a senior and realize all the mistakes you’ve made and can’t make up for them the daily encouragements makes me think about how God can still use me. It’s hard now to want to slip back in those doubtful situations but self-talk helps. Love you, Sharon
Hi Renee,
I signed up to receive your posts by email. I look forward to starting the study as well! Thanks for this great giveaway. I would love to win 🙂
Hi Renee! I am so encouraged by your book and website! I have only read the first three chapters but I am constantly reminding myself of your words and the scripture you provide in it. I used to be so confident and I probably still appear that way to most. However in my mind I doubt myself and am consumed with worry about EVERYTHING. I am so blessed with a wonderful family but the enemy keeps attacking my emotions and confidience as a wife, mother and women. You don’t know how many times a day I repeat to myself “God’s love is perfect so that I don’t have to be!” from Chapter 2. I am so thankful that you have shared your story and given us an honest look at your struggles. I am truly trying to regain my confidience and realize that I do not have to please others, I cannot be perfect, but that I am a child of the King and as long as I am living in Him that is where I can find my worth! I pray that this is just the beginning for me so that I can freely live for Him and show my family a true heart for Christ! Have a blessed day Renee!
What a blessing this book is going to be for so many!! I have done all four of the items and have been sharing your blogs with my friends.